Fluid flow control apparatus



y 29, 1941- 'A. E. :IURS 2,250,767

FLUID mow CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Marph s, 1939 s Sheets-sheaf 1 INVENTOR. v be/'/ Jun ATTORNEY BYQMLOKFZZZM July 29, 1941. A.'E. JURS FLUID FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS July 29, 1941. A. E. JURS FLUID FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 3, 1939 R2 m w. N W m N/ w 0 A L 4- Patented July 29, 1941 a 2,250,767;

; ----UNl-TEDSTATES PATENT QgEFf'liQEy Fmw coN'rRoL APPARlATUS 7 Albert E.:Jurs, Piedmont lcalifi Application-March 3, 1939;S'erial Nozf259j630 7'-Claims. (}.132'4-53) This invention relates"generally to apparatus valvef mechanismi Ill, it'c ons'ists' ofa mainivalv'e forcontrollingtor-ventinggases or fluids-in accldsur'epallt l.3,lformedjfofi suitable. metal or cordancewithfiuid'pressures. Moreiparticularly metaiqauoy; Thecentralporti'on of thislclosure the inventioni'is' concernedfwith apparatus. for". is'dished iddwnwardli land its lower endlis proautomatically relieving gasorvapor pressures, .e vided.with 'aiestfidtdforifieiHf The'pallet'issuchasmayaccumulateor'exist ingas 'or vapor positidnedjwithin .theiholl'ow bodv J 6'; and when sv'stems'. A'pparatuses ofthistypeare' usedin" inlclfisedlpositionlitTengage the'seat rirlgl'l. cnnection" with pressure receivers" or storage .rifigziii turn is. carried by the annular raised tan'lgsj' as for example wherestorage tanks ..con-. flange. l8= The inlet'ppenirlgMlllof the body is. tairi' volatil'eiiquids like gasoline or other petrolfl connected-byiconduit 2] tel the upper'tank wall lum fractionsgandfwhejre abnormal vapor pres-' I21. .The space ZZ'surroundTng', annular fiange1l8,

sure vithinthe tanktmust .berelieved by venting; connects through conduit 23withthe atmosphere oriwithdrawal of .gas'. or to some low pressure system;

It 'is'ia'genera'l iobject of 'the invention to pro- H Iiiiconjunctidn vvith lthe pallet or closur l3. vide improvedregulating 'apparatussuitable for ld there vislanl annulan flexible' diaphragm element use inconjunction with storage tanks containing, 2151" Tffisdiaphragm element is ..formed. of suit-- volatile liquids, and which will give full assurance able.irliribl' rnaterialisucli as f'a'b'r-i reinforced; fri'thev safety of the tank against either abnor syntheticrubber. Itslinner. peripheral edge poi m'al climatic conditions, or failure of, vital parts ti'dn' is clampedandsealedt'o the outer periphof the'apparatus. v v 2oera-l lporti0n of.theiclosure I3, asillustrate'd." The] Another object of "the'inventi'on isteprovide outr peripherf 'edgeportiorlofilthe'diaphragm. aniimprove'd form of pilot or controlvalve mech- 4is cllnpedihetween .theLmain bbdvI part l6, anism;.which willfunction' irrespective of rup-. and Heubp dyl coven 2F. Whenthe pallet ture'of the operating diaphragm. is in lc16sed. 'fpos-itidn as illustrated in -1*'.i"g".-. 1 Additional objects of the invention will appearfzg there-i s .-no appreciable sagto the diaphragm 24," from theiollowing description inwhichthe pre= nd e b mgm .serve's to li ce ferred'embo'diment' of the invention has been set 9 hg sp l tfie Va ve eatl forthin' detail in "conjunction. with the accom== ,Tfie-rspace gl aboveltherclosurl.l3andldiapanying'drawings. phragn 24; forms a gas .chamberwhieh is at;a1l' 'Referrin'gxto the drawings" 3Q; timesimccmmunieation .with the inlet I!) through-' Fig: 1 is a si'deelevational-view,partly in cross the restriictecilorifice l dj 'Iliereforeunder norinalfl section; illustrating apparatus incorporating the conditlons with: the pall'et l 3 closed, the pressure presentinvention'and 'appliedto a storage tank: inachamberlil. is the same .as that in the inlet Fig. Zis' a side elevational view in cross-section; Hew upon pidly venting gas from illustratingthe pilotvalvemechanismof theap "fCh31 be1-' 1, the pressure in the same falls sufli paratus shown in'Fig.'1. a V ciently or considreably below theapressureinl the Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional detail taken along'the inlet 9,, --andrtherefore fluidlpressure acts' upline' 3 -3 'of"Fig;'2;* war. upon thejpallti-l3 '.lto ..move the same to .4" is anenlarged."cross=sectional detail l PQ fi I taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. 4Q Theeimproved=pilot valve-mechanism-l I isfor Figs; 5 to? inclusive arecross-sectional details h chamber automatically" on" an enlarged scale; showing various ways in accordance with the pressure within the'storwhichthe pilot diaphragm assemblvmay' be e tank.-- As shown in Fig. 1 the cover 2 6 -is sociated'with'means for forming-a supplemental Dm hfie in 8-Whichtc0mmunicates pressure with chamberfl andawhichin turn is connected The apparatus as 'illustrateddn 1 consists tmthe pipe or :extensionhoseiS; The other end generally'of 'a'main valve mechanism -l0,"-and a- 0f= =this sh seconnects=-tq-the---fi t the pilot valve'mechanism'll. The mechanism l0- i e ec anism -ll.

is simila-r tothat disclosed" and claimed 'in-co-- e l w F -g' i b e -p pending application Seria1-NQ;'215 607; filed -J1ine-;50 'cmechanrsm: COIlSlSlGSwOf a.bodystructure -:which 2471938; in the name; of Albert'E: Jurs: Toil-- for-convenienceis'maderof separatesectionson lustratda'typical installation; both the-mecha pan sfi -a; lsb; 3l e;andx3 m. 'I'hesepartsi-are-as I 1315318.] "La shownmountedupon the,top,.; semblede and clamped @tegetherins a suitable wall mesa storaget'ankw 7' Y ash ongand serve to house-the various working Tebrieflv review the constructioniof the maimc pan s-: "T w dy part 3 l-c=is Drovidedflvith h inlet anddischarge passages 32 and 33. Inlet The diaphragm assembly 4| is held within the body parts 3|a and 3|b and the center of this assembly is connected to the couplingsleeve 38 by the rod 42.

A suitable detailed construction forthe pilot valve assembly 31, is illustrated. in Fig. 4. In this the outer periphery of the diaphragm plate 64 and the inner periphery of the flanges 68 and 69, forms an annular diaphragm portion which is free to flex to permit movements of the assembly between upper and lower limits, corresponding to open and closed positions of valve 31.

The central portion of the diaphragm plate 64 is rigidly attached to the rod 42. The body part 3 b has a wall portion 12 extending generally over the diaphragm assembly, and this wall portion has an opening 13 to accommodate the rod 42. The space 14 above the diaphragm assembly 4|,

, is freely vented to the atmosphere through open- "ings 15 (Fig. 3) and through the interior of the 15? protective-covering 34. The space 16 below the diaphragm assembly connects with the inlet instance it makes use of circularly contoured parts 43, 44 and 45, which are clamped together as by means of screws 46.

house the upper rod portion 38a, and to also house a compression spring49. The lower'end of this spring is seated upon the part 44, and its upper end bears upon the nut 5|, whereby the force of spring 49 serves to urge the valve 31 downwardly relative to the rod 38. The pressure exerted by spring. 49 determines the maximum force with which the pilot valve is pressed upon the seat ring 36.

The valve part 45 is in the nature of a clamping ring, with its inner periphery recessed to engage and retain the valve facing 52. This facing can be formed of suitable material such as synthetic rubber, in which case the ring 36 can be formed of a molded phenolic condensate product 7 like Bakelite.

wardly upon the rod 38. The'upper end of this spring'is seated upon the body, whileits lower end is seated upon the thrust ring 56, which in turn is carried by the upper end of. a nut 51.v

The contacting surfaces 58'between thrust ring 56,-andthe upper end of nut 51, can be formed The upper end 38a of rod 38 is of reduced diameter and extends loosely through a central opening 41 in the part 44. The. part'43 has a hollow extension"48,jto.

e 1 '40 'To form a loading force tending to urgethe spherical as illustrated, in order to enable limited 7 freedom of "movement of the thrust ring 56, without applying clamping forces to the rod 38.

Nut 51 is threaded upon the rod 38, and can'be adjusted in order to vary the compression of spring 54. A guide bushing 6| for rod 38 serves to maintain this rod-and also the valve 31 in proper alignment. h

It may be explained'at this point that when the rod 38 is moved upwardly by upward movement of thediaphragm assembly 4|, the shoulder 62 on rod 38 engages the lower'opposed face 63 on the valve 31, and thereafter the valve is lifted from its seat.-

The diaphragm assembly 4| is preferably formed of a circularly contoured diaphragm plate 64, in conjunction with a flexible diaphragm element 66. The diaphragm plate 64 is relatively rigid, and can be formed of suitable metal, while the diaphragm element 86 is of suitable flexible of gas under pressure.

opening 11, which in turn connects to a source In the installation of Fig. 1 opening 11 connects with the storage tank, through the conduit 18.

Normally the 'pilot diaphragm Y assembly 4| presentsagiven area .to gas pressure in chamber 16.".Should the gas pressure in chamber 16 exceed a predetermined value, dependent upon the loading of the diaphragm, the diaphragm is. moved upwardly to open the. valve .31, and to retain the valve in .openposition until the pressure in chamber. 16.. decreases. With. a con-' ventional type of I diaphragm, .airupture in the flexible element would permit a venting of gas from chamber 16 to theiatmosphere, and if the rupture should be of sufficient size it would minimize if not entirely destroyefie'ctivenesspf thev diaphragm in properly operating .thevalve 31.

In order to,ma'ke certain thatthe. diaphragm will operate the valvenfll' irrespectiveof rupture of theflexible elementEB, Imake use of means serving in. effect .to...'form 'a supplemental pressurejarea-for the diaphragmassembly, in the event'ofa rupture accompanied. by venting of. gas-throughthe rupture. Thus attached to the underside. of the. diaphragm assembly thereis an annular ring, 8|,' which can be conveniently clamped against the lower side of the flexible diaphragm. element .56, and-attached by screws or like. means tothe peripheral portion of the diaphragm plate ,64. 'I'hisringcarries a laterally extendingskirt or flange 82, having a circular outer periphery. In this instance the skirt. is

shown located somewhat below'theIflexible portion 1| of the diaphragm assembly, with its outer peripheryspaced' a short distance from the cylindricaYwalI surface-83 of thebody part. 3|a. Thus in effect a. restricted annular orifice 84 is formed between the outer periphery of the skirt or flange 82, and the adjacent surface of thebody.v The dimensioningof the diaphragm'1 I .may vary in different instances, in accordance with' {the specifications and requirements ofservice. Also there should be suitable relative proportio'nin'g between the areaof the annular orifice 84,1.the area of the inlet. 11 and the combined areas of the outlet' openings 15.. Inthe particular in-. stance illustrated, the inlet 11 is about six inches in diameter, while the outer diameter of the skirt 82 is seventeen inches, the gap 84, of an inch, and the combined areas of the outlet openings 15 is somewhatlarger than the area of the annular orifice 84. Also the flexible diaphragm portion 1| has an outer diameter of about 1' 1}/;. inches, an innerdiametenof about 13 inches, and a mean average diameter of about 15 inches. The manner in which the skirt or flange 82 functions, in conjunctionwith the orifice 84, to form a Supplemental pressureareajn the event age-sonata 3s saidiicdep'emiing'iiapplication; Serial 1N0; 215,607.15 in-xordenlto; affordiadequateorces ito break-lanai: ice'iwhicli-maylha-ize accumulated upon the seat ings supfaiceszr ITIielpaJIeit; l.3:remains openzuntil' the'lpnessureliniitlreetankagain'iallsbelowa given:-

valiieg siren which: atmospheric; pressure acting: upomtheluppersideioftthe diaphragm assembly 41" together witli'the tensionzof 'spring -:54: causes-thist diaphragm to:mclvedownwardly. to .closethevalve:

p fl- A150 heddwesmost DS t 0n 0 i3b Immediatelymtter'closing of thisipilotvalizee thediapliragm asSembIYAL tHespringAS ism-ids! a predetermined amount oficompressien, thereby causing ;.the pilot valve assembly- 3l' to -be-=-'|.1rged-" upon its' seat ring- 36, with a predetermined amount offorcw The distance which-rod 38* iting position; is -such that after-the initial-part of such-movemen-t the opposed-jsurfaces 62 and-= thezpnes'surei again buildseup in:chamber :21.abovethelpailetabyivirtuel of flow o'f gas through the orifizieel 4-; Buildinguprof pressurein chamberi 1'3 isiaccompaniediby:closing -;movement. of pallet I 3;?

As previously pointedout the flexible-portion;

H ioffthe-pilot diaphragm assembly is subject to possible ruptureu. Withoutnthetflange :82 shouldtl-iissrupturelbeofxsufiicientsize theupilot valve meohanismwould failatozfunction properly. With 63 cornednt n a e nt: aft which"the "p 0 the fiangeaz, :a rupture m the flexiblediaphragm;

valve assembly -3 T. *moveszupwardly to open 'positiongtogether with the -;finalupwardmovement. ofrod 38. V s

A plurality offwebsor vanes B Pareshown dis= portion-:1 l',':is accompanied by flow of gasthrough the rupture fromtthefichamberlfi; through the restricted annulan 'orifice 84.- The pressure above the -flange 82Iis:therefore--immediate1y lowered posed; m -Pa 3'17? relative -to the pressure- -be1ow--the-same,-- and--the vanes serve the purpose 'of' 'guiding condensate t' drainingjrom passages. 89,. thus preventinggsuch condensate from. entering the openings I 5"into thechamber-M.- These' vanes areshown gendifi'erentia'l pressu-re' -causes a resulting forcevot substantial magnitude which urges the diaphragm-assemblyupwardly. To describe-=this-dm adifirent waya the-fiow. restrictingannular ori= surrounding... the.vanes, there isa screen 88jfor. preventing entrance of foreign material;

It will be noted that certain parts are arranged to..fac.i1itate drainagepi condensate. Thusthe fluidpressure area which is effective in the event: of a rupture in -the diaphragm portion 1 I I ac w companied by venting ot gas through the ru turer- The l'arger the rupture and the greater the 1193639 illustrated 1 isinclmedio e r venti-ngpfi gas through 'the rupture,- the more efzontal, in" order. to drain. condensateinto .the... chamb'er- 21, and;then.ce through-.the;orificer.l4.i. Theyinterior oi- .bo'dyf- -pa'rt .3 [C .can \drainthroug-h; thelinclin'ed openings 1 8 9, and entrance.- .ofsconrdensat'e into theppjenin'g flis-minimized by. the i provision. of. a protectivelskirt 8D, 11DOn the-c011 pling sleeve';39L-. V I H Operatiomof the} apparatus: described" abet/3a,.

caribeloutlined asiollows: It will be-assumedthat; r anainstallation;isamade as; described: .imconnec: tion .with. Fig 1, with-both the-imam;andspilote. valve mechanisms connected =to,-.a rtanlgathrough' the.--top;tank-wa11 -l2.,. Alsowit will=berpresumed'-:-. that ;tl',1e;-.sp ring 54 I set so; that: for. a ,predeter- 1 mined pressure .=o f lgasio vapor withinzthe -tanlg. the-p lot; r'l osure 13 :will automatical ysopen .ufromthetank hroughaconduitzlh As.= long- -.as;.thegpressure ofigasawithimzthehtank;: is-.-below. the; value for which;thegapparatus is C5.

set: tozventgthe pilot: diaphragm:assemb1y ll remains= in. its ilowermost:position;.withethespilot-c valvefikclosed. Thus the pressure.- above or bee lowlthelpallet l 3 will belequalized through orifice:

feetiveis the supplemental area; The effect :justh deseribed -is ample to. create-forces-acting-:u ward-1y 'upon the diaphragm assembly, a after a rupture. has oocurred--to insure propei opening of-- the pilotvalve 31 to operatethe main valve plete rupture is not considerably less than -the effective area ofithe diaphragm :with portion- 1 l intact} whicm latter area is approximately the areaof a- :(':ircleporresponding to ;the mean di ameterof portibn 1 I: Therefore; withthepro- '"portionsillustrated-and referred to above,-if the sland beoause-ofsthe -pressureEarea presentede diaphragmWil-l operate at-a 'pressure-of-about2.-3 J

bythe -pall'et togethenwith diaphragm :24; the pallet is held closed upon the seat -l 'I. If -the gaspressure in the tank increases-beyond th'e value ior-whieh-theapparatus isset; the--pilot diapoundswithf a complete -rupture,-and-at pressures somewhere between 2.3 and 2;5pounds-per squareinch'fo'r-varyingide'grees-Of-rupture:

It will 'be' apparent that the feature describedphragmassembly it is urged upwardly -to--op en-- above is *of' importance-- in manyinstances, -par= v valve 31; thus permittingwenting of""gas-from'- chamber 21 through the connecting hose-29f= Such-ventin Of gas isimmediately accompanied by a lowering of pressure in the chamber 21above ticula'rly' in connection" with"-lar ge storage-tank's containing volatile' liquids:- In suchiins-tances it is essential toin'sure. proper venting o'fi'gas. from v the. tank when. thefpressure attains a' predeterpallet 3? with theresult thavpressure a i '70 .minea;va1ue; in .orderito" avoid'jpos sibl'e bursting'i'f uponthe 'lower side of the pallet l3forces the same to .open position. In...this connectionit should he. noted that the diameter of; the. seat ring ll is. pr fe lysu stantially. reater. than the.

oi itheitank, r

1m addition .to itne featurevde'scribediabove, the.

complete apparatus possesses. certain. additionalii featureslwhi'ch'.contribute toiits. commercialisuc diameter ,0f.;th"ej.in1et *opening' j .9," as .de.scribjedl'in 75... cess fv 'Reierence has ,toltlie :f I.

the main .valve mechanism will function irrespective of ice.formation upon the seatingZsur-A faces. .This, is likewisetrue of the pilot valve' mechanism l I, because of the relatively large ef-i fective area afforded by the pilot diaphragm, and because of the material utilized forthe pilot valve seating surfaces. Also the pilot diaphragm affords adequate pressure area. to avoid inopere ativenessdue to accumulation of ice upon the guide bushing 6|. Should there'beiarupture of the diaphragm 24 for the main valve mechanism, such rupture would result ina suddenlowering of pressure in chamber 21, and therefore the tank would be automatically vented by, opening of pallet l,3., 1

-It;' has been pointed out that the pilot valve mechanism is loaded by means of a compression spring 54. Should this compression spring weak-,

en or fail, the only effect willube a lowering of the pressure at which the apparatus will function, or opening ,of the closure iii in the event of total failure, of the compression spring. v

,With respect to the inter-connecting tube 29, a possible failure of this tubelikewise causes a venting and lowering of pressure in chamber 21, to open the pallet 3. The pallet l3 will also automatically open in the event a condition of extreme vacuum exists in the tank, because the difference between the area presented to the vacuum by the lower side of the pallet, and the larger area presented to the same vacuum by the upper side of the pallet and diaphragm 24, causes an upward openingforce on the diaphragm 24.

Allof the above features serve to fully guarantee J the diaphragm for operating the pilotvalve, and

the means forming a supplemental pressurearea for the same, may be formed as illustrated in Figs. 5ito l inclusive. Thus referring toFig. 5,- the ,flexible diaphragm element 66 is shown engagedby the upper and lower diaphragm plates 9| and 92. The upper diaphragm plate or ring 9| is shown provided with a skirt 93, correspond: ing to the skirt 82 of Fig. 2. The outer periphery periphery of. disc .llll is, in close proximity with the adjacent cylindrical walls of the body, thus affording the restricted annular orifice I03.

Thearrange'ment ofFig. 7 is similar to Fig. 6, exceptjihatthe. disc, for. forming a supplemental pressure.:.area, is not"; directly attached to the diaphragm assembly. ,Thus the disc I04 corresponding to thedisc lfil, of Fig. 6, is shown secured to the guide rod I08, which in turn is loosely retained by the guide lll'l. The diaphragm assembly can be formed somewhat as illustrated in Fig. fi as for example by the flexible element 66 engaged ,by the upper and lower diaphragm plates llll and 92. Disc I04 has its outer periphery-in close proximity with the adjacent walls of the body, toform the annular restricted orifice "38. Normally disc Hi4 would remain in a lowered position out of engagement with the diaphragm assembly. However, in the event the flexible portion ll of the diaphragm assembly is ruptured and a-substantial flow of fluid occurs through the rupture, the restriction to flow through the annular orifice I08 causes the fluid pressure to force disc I04 upwardly against the lower sideof thediaphragm assembly, thus forming'ial'supplelriental'fluid pressure area for operatiofifof the pilot valve.

It should be understood that the pilot mechanism ll need not be mounted separate from the main valve mechanism,'but may for example be mounted directly upon'the cover 26, provided passage H is properly'connecte'd .to the storage tank. v

1'. In' fluid flowcontrol apparatus, a valve movable 'between' open andj'closed' positions, fluid pressure 'operating"'means including a flexible diaphragm portion subject to rupture, said means being capable of operating the valve either before or'after rupture of said flexible diaphragm portion, and afhollowfbody serving to enclose said'fluid pressure operated means and sealed with respect to the periphery of said flexible diaphragm portion, said body affording a closed chamber on one side of said fluid pressure operated means and an inlet communicating with said chamber for connection with a source of fluid under pressure-the space on the opposite side 'of -said means being freely vented, saidfluid 5' I pressure operated means comprising a diaphragm assembly including said flexible diaphragm portion and-providing an effective fluid pressure-area for-normal operation of the valve, and supplementalmeans associated with the diaphragm as- ..sembly and forming a fluid pressure area for opof this skirt extends into relatively close proximity with the adjacent cylindrical shaped surface of the body, thereby forming the restricted annular orifice iii corresponding to the orifice 84 of Fig. 2. The operation of this arrangement is substantially the same as Fig. 2, in that when thefiexible diaphragm element 66 is ruptured,'and a flow of gas or fluid occurs through orifice 94, skirt 93 forms in eifect a supplemental pressure area, ca.- pable of operating the pilot valve.

Fig. fiillustrates an arrangement in which a separate'disc or like element, forms a supplemental pressure area. Inthis case the flexible element 68 is engaged by the upper and lower diaphragm plates 98 and 92, and disposed on one side of this assembly; there is a flat disc lill. This disc can" beoperatively connected in'any suitable manner to the diaphragm assembly, as for example to the operating rod 42. The outer eration offthe valve in theevent of rupture of theiflexible; diaphragm portion, said area being at least as large as-the effective fluid pressure area of said diaphragm assembly for normal operation of; the valve said supplemental means affording an orifice through which fluid is vented from 'saidchamber as the fluid flows through a diaphragm rupture, said orifice being relatively small compared to the area of the flexible diaphragm portion and the cross sectional area of said'inlet being relatively large compared to said orifice. I I

-2. In fiuidflow control apparatus,a valve movable between openand closed position, fluid pressureopera'ting, means including a flexible annular diaphragm portion, said means serving to operate the valve either before or after rupture of saidfflexible' diaphragm portion, and a hollow body'se'rving to enclose said means and sealed withrespect to the peripheryof the flexible diaphragm portion, said body affording a closed chamber on one side of thefluid pressure operating means, the body providing an inlet opening to said chamber for connection with a source of fluid under pressure, the space on the other side of the fluidpressure operatingmeans being Tfree 1y vented, said fluidpressure'operating means comprising a diaphragm assembly including said flexible diaphragm portion and providing an effect'rve fluid pressure areaIfor normal operation of the valve, and supplemental means'ia'sso'ciated with. the diaphragm assembly and forming a fluid pressure area for "operation of the valve in the event ofl rupture of the flexible "diaphragm portion, said area being larger than the effective fluid pressure area of said diaphragm assembly for normal operation of the valve, said supple-' mentalmean's'also affording anorifice through which fluid'is vented from saidac'hamber as fluid flows through a diaphragm rupture, the "orificebeing'relatively small compared to'the area ofthe flexible diaphragm portion, said inlethaving a cross sectional area'relatively large-- compared to the area of the orifice. i v 3., In fluid flowiacontrol apparatus, a valve movable j between; open and closed" positions, 1 fluid pressure operatingmeans"including an annular flexible -diaphragm portion;t saidimean's serving tO',.0perate the valve" either before. or. 'aftenthe' rupture of said flexible diaphragmwportion, and

a hollow body serving to enclose said means :and sealed with respect tothe periphery of the flexible diaphragm portion, said body affording a closed chamber on one side of said fluid pressure operating means, the body providing an inlet opening to said chamber for connection with a source of fluid under pressure, the space on the other side of said fluid pressure operating means being freely vented, said means comprising a diaphragm assembly including said flexible diaphragm portion and providing an effective fluid pressure area for normal operation of the valve, and a rigid supplemental member associated with the diaphragm assembly and forming a fluid pressure area for operation of the valve in the event of rupture of the flexible diaphragm portion, said area being at least as large as the effective fluid pressure area of the diaphragm assembly for normal operation of the valve, said supplemental member having its periphery spaced from physical contact with the inner side walls of said body to provide an annular orifice through which fluid is vented from said chamber as fluid flows through a diaphragm rupture, the orifice being relatively small compared to the area of the flexible diaphragm portion and the cross sectional area of the inlet being relatively large compared to the cross sectional area of said orifice.

4. In fluid flow control apparatus, a valve movable between open and closed positions, fluid pressure operating means including an annular flexible diaphragm portion, said means serving to operate the valve either before or after the rupture of said flexible diaphragm portion, and a hollow body serving to enclose said means and sealed with respect to the periphery of the flexible diaphragm portion, said body affording a closed chamber on one side of said fluid pressure operating means, the body providing an inlet opening to said chamber for connection with a source of fluid under pressure, the space on the other side of said fluid pressure operating means being freely vented, said means comprising a diaphragm assembly including said flexible diaphragm portion and providing an effective fluid pressure area for normal operation of the valve,

and a'rigid supplemental member-associated with the; diaphragm assembly-and forming a 'fluid pressure area for operation ofthe valve in the event of rupture of the flexible diaphragm por-f tion,'said area being at least as large as the effective fluid pressure area of the diaphragm assembly for normal operation of the valve, said supplemental-member being spaced from direct physical contact with the-flexible diaphragm portion and having its periphery spaced from physicalcontact withthe inner side Walls of said body to provide an annular orifice through which fluid is vented fromsaid chamber as fluid flows througha diaphragm rupture, the hriflcebeing relatively small compared to the area of the flexible diaphragm portion and the cross sec-, tional area of the inlet being relativelylarge compared'to the cross sectionalnarea of said orifice.

5 5. In fluid flovv control ana rams; a valve movable between open and closed positions, fluid pressure operating means including an annular flexible diaphragm portion, sai d means serving to operate the valve either before or after the 'rupture or said flexible diaphragm portion, and a hollow body serving to enclose said means and, sealed with respect to the periphery of the flexible diaphragm portion, said body'affording a closed chamber on oneside of said fluid .pres

3 sure operatingmeans, the body prqviding an in:

let "open-ing to said chamber for connection with a enres of fluid underp'ressure, the space on the other side of said fluid pressure operating means being freely vented, said means comprising a diaphragm assembly including said flexible diaphragm portion and providing an effective fluid pressure area for normal operation of the valve, and a rigid supplemental member associated with the diaphragm assembly and forming a fluid pressure area for operation of the valve in the event of rupture of the flexible diaphragm portion, said area being at least as large as the effective fluid pressure area of the diaphragm assembly for normal operation of the valve, said supplemental member having a diameter greater than the diameter of the main effective area of the diaphragm assembly, and having its periphery spaced from physical contact with the inner side walls of said body to provide an annular orifice through which fluid is vented from said chamber as fluid flows through a diaphragm rupture, the orifice being relatively small compared to the area of the flexible diaphragm portion and thecross sectional area of the inlet being relatively large compared to the cross sectional area of said orifice.

6. In fluid flow controlapparatus, a valve movable between open and closed positions, fluid pressure operating means including an annular flexible diaphragm portion, said means serving to operate the valve either before or after the rupture of said flexible diaphragm portion, and a hollow body serving to enclose said means and sealed with respect to the periphery of the flexible diaphragm portion, said body afiording a closed chamber on one side of said fluid pressure operating means, the body providing an inlet opening to said chamber for connection with a source of fluid under pressure, the space on the other side of said fluid pressure operating means being freely vented, said means comprising a diaphragm assembly including said flexible diaphragm portion and providing an effective fluid pressure area for normal operation of the valve, and a rigid supplemental member associated with the diaphragm assembly and forming a fluid pressure area for operation of the valve in the event of rupture of the flexible diaphragm portion, said area being at least as large as the effective fluidpressure area of the diaphragm assembly for normal operation of the valve, said supplemental member being mounted upon the diaphragm assembly, and being in the form of a skirt which is spaced from the flexible part of the diaphragm assembly and has an outer diameter which is greater than the diameter of the main effective area of the diaphragm assembly, and said supplemental member having its periphery spaced from physical contact with the inner side walls of said body to provide an annular orifice through which fluid is vented from said chamber as fluid flows through a diaphragm rupture, the orifice being relatively small compared to the area of the flexible diaphragm portion and the cross sectional area of the inlet being relatively large compared to the cross sectional area of said orifice.

. 7. In fluid flowcontrol apparatus, a. valve movable between open and closed positions, fluid pressure operating means includingan'annular flexible diaphragm portion, said means serving to operate the valve either before or after the rupture of said flexible diaphragm portion, and a hollow body serving to enclose said means and sealed with respect to the periphery of the flexlble diaphragm portion, said body afiording a closed chamber on one side of said fluid pressure operating means, the body providing an inlet opening to said chamber for connection with a source of fluid under pressure, the space on the other side of said fluid pressure operating means being freely vented, said means comprising a. diaphragm assembly including said flexible diaphragm portion and providing an effective fluid pressure area for normal operation of the valve, and a rigid supplemental member associated with the diaphragm assembly and forming a fluid pressure area for operation of the valve inthe event of rupture of the flexible diaphragm portion, said area being at least as large as'the effective fluid pressure area of the diaphragm assembly for normal operation of the valve. said supplemental member being mounted within the hollow body independent of the diaphragm assembly, and being moved by fluid pressure to operate the valve only in the event of rupture the orifice being relatively small compared to the area of the flexible diaphragm portion and the cross sectional area of the inlet being relatively large compared to the cross sectional area of said orifice.

ALBERT E. JURS. 

